For Hunter: Clanton rallies support for boy, autism and bullying awareness

Published 10:51 am Tuesday, February 11, 2025

By Carey Reeder

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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

A young boy’s life was forever changed on Feb. 9 as thousands of people flocked to Clanton for a car show to show their support for Hunter Fancher, autism and bullying prevention. Hunter is a 10-year-old boy who was diagnosed with autism and was unfortunately bullied. His mother, Meghan Fancher, made a simple Facebook post, and that turned into a full-blown event that took over a portion of Clanton and showed an outpouring of support.

“I do not think any of us were ready for the magnitude of what actually happened (there), and none of us were expecting it to that extreme,” Meghan said.

Hunter was diagnosed with autism and works through the challenges of that each day. Unfortunately, Hunter was bullied for the vibrant, colorful and stylish glasses that he wears, and he tried to take his own life.

“With autism, you never know what your day is going to look like and no day is the same,” Meghan said. “It was the cherry on top that pushes an autistic kid over the edge,”

The young boy was broken down, and his mother was looking for some way to build him back up. Hunter loves cars, and during his stay in the hospital, Meghan put together a Facebook post hoping to get a few cars to come by their house or meet somewhere that Hunter could see them and feel some love for a bit. From there, the post took off.

Sergio Sanchez, owner of Valle Grande Mexican Grill and a car enthusiast himself, got involved and began organizing a car show for Hunter. Quickly, other businesses got involved as well like Chris Courville with Ya Betta Eat Cajun Smokehouse, Peach Park, and nearby businesses to Valle Grande who opened their parking lots for attendees. The event grew quickly, and everything was for Hunter.

By 2 p.m. on Feb. 9, thousands of people, cars and motorcycles poured into the strip of 7th Street North to show their support as streets were blocked off to accommodate the crowd. Cars, bikes, carts, jeeps and other vehicles filled the parking lot of Valle Grande, and the cars extended down 7th Street North to Goose Pond Park and across 7th Street North into downtown Clanton.

Hunter was greeted in Thorsby by some bikers who escorted him to the Chilton County Courthouse where Sanchez was waiting. Hunter has loved the classic truck that sits out front of Valle Grande in Clanton since the moment he saw it, and Sanchez promised him a ride in it one Sunday — today was that day. Hunter did not know about the event that was planned, he just thought him, his mother and Sanchez were going for a ride in the truck. However, when Sanchez came to the four-way stop by Valle Grande and made the right turn, it hit Hunter what the day was really for.

“It made my day,” Hunter said. “It made me really happy.”

Hunter was greeted with thousands of people screaming his name, beeping horns, waving signs and more to show their support for the boy of the hour. Throughout the event, cars made passes by Valle Grande blowing horns and waving to Hunter, and Ya Betta Eat and Valle Grande both served free food and drinks to supporters and attendees. Many different car and motorcycle groups came out to support Hunter including the Calvary Riders MM, the Klutch Kings, River Region Jeeps and more.

“If you can create a bond with my child, you have a best friend for life. He has thousands of best friends now. It has been the greatest feeling to see everyone come together for a cause that is close to my heart,” Meghan said. “I just made a simple post, and without anyone sharing the story and knowing people to get my son’s story out there we would not have had what we had.”

Hunter said he had never seen that many cars in one place before. He got to ride on a motorcycle, received countless gifts and ended the day by doing donuts with Sanchez in the Valle Grande parking lot once the crowd dissipated.

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